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BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)

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"Tell me and I'll forget,show me and I may remember,involve me and I'll understand" Chinese Proverb

"The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys everything at retail, sells everything at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways." John F. KennedyFranklin County Beekeepers Association MA. http://www.franklinmabeekeepers.org/

"Tell me and I'll forget,show me and I may remember,involve me and I'll understand" Chinese Proverb

"The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys everything at retail, sells everything at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways." John F. KennedyFranklin County Beekeepers Association MA. http://www.franklinmabeekeepers.org/

When I consider time of assembly, painting and annual upkeep my preferred option is Rossman's cypress. I can glue and screw email and put them in the yard. No paint, no maintenance and I get years of service out of them. Shipping is moot since Fred has a truck at both the spring and fall GBA meetings or I can always do a pick up. I can beat his prices though even buying my own cypress if I don't factor in my time but it's a wash if I do.

I try to buy as much as I can at one time so I can barter on the price. If you dont mind assembeling them yourself then you can buy them by the pallet and save some bucks. I have done this with friends as well, we get together and buy 5-6 grand worth at a time and save a lot of money...If you can go to a dealer the next state over to avoid sales tax...

This year after reading a post here about a new box jig I am thinking on making them myself...

ummmm..spent $15 for a book of plans for beekeeping equip on Amazon. $20 worth of wood- $12 on mesh- $8 on alum flashing. 15/20/12/8=$55 total and I've built two complete hives from bottom to the telescoping top. for another $20 in wood, i can build two more hives. So 4 complete hives with 1 deep and 1 med each comes out to like $20 each basically. Just cant get cheaper than that. It does help to have a table saw, drill, router and a few bits in your inventory handy.

ummmm..spent $15 for a book of plans for beekeeping equip on Amazon. $20 worth of wood- $12 on mesh- $8 on alum flashing. 15/20/12/8=$55 total and I've built two complete hives from bottom to the telescoping top. for another $20 in wood, i can build two more hives. So 4 complete hives with 1 deep and 1 med each comes out to like $20 each basically. Just cant get cheaper than that. It does help to have a table saw, drill, router and a few bits in your inventory handy.

"4 complete hives with 1 deep and 1 med each"...Not sure I would consider 1 deep and 1 med a "complete hive". :) Then there's also the expense of frames and foundation....

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"We must reject the idea that every time a law’s broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions." - Ronald Reagan

Hands down mannlake most times is my best option and at times free shipping. They don't charge your card till they ship so they can find the cheapest shipper. And when the shipping is free I always order extra stuff lol

OK, so its been a couple months since last post.. i couldnt help but chime in....

Once set up... it costs me about five dollars per box, eight dollars with frames to make my own... I have a jig for the boxes.. I drop the parts in, glue and nail.. start to finish on a box is about ten minutes from raw board to box.. I usually cut enough pieces to make a dozen, then go to nailing and gluing. Router the handholds, paint, and drop the frames in. Once you have done a couple, you get the system down pretty fast. I have nearly thirty hives sitting ready to go just from puttering and tinkering the last two weeks.. I have to slow down or I'll run myself out of things to do when its -20 outside.. I make and use all mediums, and make my own foundationless frames, and rub wax on them.. the difference at 30 hives is 6000+ dollars commercially, and around 1200 doing it myself. I understand everyone doesnt have the tools, or the time... time being the limiting factor.. if you have time but no tools.. imagine how well 5 grand could set you up??? Then again.. if you only plan to maintain four or five hives I can understand why it wouldnt pay... but surely you know someone who enjoys making sawdust??